Homemade mouse repellents such as peppermint, mothballs, or ultrasonic devices usually do not work. Although these can help reduce the number of rats, they cannot completely eliminate them. Mice are very intelligent, so when they find a place that is safe from predators, they don’t leave it easily.
Is it beneficial to use mothballs?
This round, white chemical has a very strong smell. It has the peculiarity that if inhaled or absorbed, it can lose the ability of cells to oxygenate themselves. Because of this, mice recognize mothballs as something dangerous and flee from the places where the pellets are located.
It is believed that placing mothballs near a rat nest will kill them, but it is not completely effective. Because the dose required to repel rats is the same as that required for humans, and mothballs have a small effect. There are cases where mice simply walk over the mothballs, as if nothing happened.
Does peppermint oil repel mice?
Even though the house smells great, the rats are still there. Peppermint, as in the case of mothballs, can only be effective in large quantities, if they have a very strong smell, but it also affects people. In addition, rats and mice can live in drains, among the nauseating smells, so the smell of peppermint is not so serious for them.
Since the aroma of peppermint oil, thus, rises and evaporates, it does not reach the rodents, who live at ground level.
Are ultrasound repellents effective?
Ultrasonic devices can scare away mice for a while, one of the reasons they don’t work is that they must always be plugged in, therefore, they don’t work in areas of the house where outlets are not usually visible, such as patios and gardens.. In addition, the wave can slow down the walls.
So how to get rid of mice?
Due to the ineffectiveness of the most common methods, experts recommend choosing to prevent their appearance, preventing the factors that attract or allow mice to be in a house. If it’s too late and you already have mice, it’s best to contact a professional pest control company. Then, remember these recommendations to prevent it from coming back.
Repair any damage outside and inside the house, preventing mice from finding a place to enter the house.Use steel mesh, as it is the only material that rats and mice will not eat to create holes that can enter houses. A good prevention method is to fill any holes in the house with steel mesh. This can be anything from vent holes to gaps in kitchen cabinets.
It should never go without saying that it is important to keep the house in optimal clean conditions. Avoid leaving leftover food, secure trash and cover siphons.
